Deal on US beef exports to China could be in place by early June, says US Agriculture Department

Talks on restarting US beef exports to China are moving fast and final details should be in place by early June, the US Department of Agriculture said on Friday, allowing American farmers to vie for business that has been lost to rival Brazil.

As part of a trade deal, US ranchers are set to halt the use of growth-promoting drugs to raise cattle destined for export to China and to log the animals’ movements, according to the USDA.

The two sides are negotiating to meet a deadline, set under a broader trade deal last week, for shipments to begin by mid-July.

Finalising technical details in early June should mean beef companies, such as Tyson Foods and Cargill , can sign contracts with Chinese buyers to meet the deadline, the USDA said.

China banned US beef in 2003 after a scare over mad cow disease. Previous attempts by Washington to reopen the world’s fastest-growing beef market have fizzled out. But now, the quick progress of the latest talks is raising hopes of US farmers.

“Both sides feel the urgency to get it done by the deadline,” said Joe Schuele, spokesman for the US Meat Export Federation, which represents Tyson, Cargill and other meat companies.